Prevalence of and risk factors for periodontal disease among pregnant women in an antenatal care clinic in Khartoum, Sudan

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with periodontal disease among pregnant Sudanese women. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Antenatal Care Clinic of Saad Abualila Hospital (Khartoum, Sudan) from August to October 2018. Socioeconomic-demographic information and reproductive history were gathered using a questionnaire. Body mass index was computed from the weight and height. The diagnosis of periodontal disease was performed using criterion that also evaluated bleeding upon probing. RESULTS: Four hundred and four women were enrolled in the study, with a mean (SD) gestational age of 30.0 (8.7) weeks. Their mean (SD) age and parity were 27.0 (5.7) years and 1.6 (1.7), respectively. Ninety-seven (24.0%) of these 404 women had periodontal disease, which was mild, moderate and severe in 49 (12.1%), 36 (8.9%) and 12 (3.0%) women respectively, while 307 (76.0%) women had no periodontal disease. In logistic regression, age, parity, education, and brushing were not associated with periodontitis, but lower gestational age was associated with periodontal disease (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99, P = 0.011).